WHEREAS, the Constitution of the State of Hawaii recognizes English and Hawaiian as the official languages of the State of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, language contains the intrinsic values of a culture and a recognition that a culture is perpetuated by the use of its language; and

WHEREAS, the sustainability of the Hawaiian culture is dependent on the knowledge, use, and prevalence of the Hawaiian language; and

WHEREAS, understanding and familiarity with the Hawaiian language can be an asset to educators in providing educational programs that are culturally relevant to both native Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian youth; and

WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii has a Hawaiian language public education system, as well as a Hawaiian language college, to provide for education through the teaching and use of the Hawaiian language in order to perpetuate the Hawaiian culture; and

WHEREAS, more can be done to promote and encourage the use and teaching of the Hawaiian language in order to perpetuate the Hawaiian culture; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that the study, learning, and use of the Hawaiian language by educators and administrators can offer insight into and understanding of the cultural heritage and foundation, learning preferences, and traditions of many of the youth attending public schools in Hawaii; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, that the Department of Education is requested to include as a desirable qualification in job descriptions used in recruiting and hiring all public school principals, vice-principals, and teachers the satisfactory completion of at least one course in Hawaiian language and culture instruction; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to develop a plan, including creative strategies and incentives, to encourage current public school principals, vice-principals, and teachers to satisfactorily complete at least one course in Hawaiian language and culture instruction as part of their licensing requirements; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to submit a progress report on implementing this Resolution and any necessary proposed legislation to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2007; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Education and the Superintendent of Education.

Report Title:

Hawaiian Language; Hawaii State Teacher Standards